Lower cover plate for crank cases



Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,584

7 L. R. LAMBERT LOWER COVER PLATE FOR CRANK CASES Filed Aug. 1922 A r TO/P/VEK? Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

STATES LINCOLN R. LAMBERT, OF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LOWER COVER, PLATE FOR. CRANK CASES.

Applicatiowfiied August 11, 1922. Serial No. 581,088;

To allwfiom it mag concern:

Be It? known that I, Iimoomr R. LAMBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Los Angeles', in the county of Los Angeles and State of California,haveinvented new and. useful Improvements in Lower Gover Platesfor Grank 'Cas'es, of'which the followingis, a specification.

My invent-ion relatestocrank cases for internal COIIllDHSiElOIlf engines, and more particularly. to thattype of crank case "in which the lower section is provided with an opening normally closedloy a cover plate.

It is a purpose ofmyinvention to provide acover plate ofthe above described character having pockets formed therein in such manner as to efi'ect the concentration of the lubricating oil at the desired points within the crank case to cause the proper lubrication of the connecting rod bearings, and in addition thereto to effect the collection of any sediment contained in the lubricating oil, such as particles of carbon and metal, thereby preventing the circulation of these particles throught the cylinders of: the engine and the injurious eiiects arising from such circulation of particles.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a cover plate of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, and one which is readily applicable to any standard form of crank case in which the lower section is provided with an opening.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of crank case cover plate embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation and partly in section a conventional form of internal combustion engine having applied thereto one form of crank case cover plate embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the cover plate shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the cover plate shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing in plan one of the pans comprised in the cover plate.

Referrin specifically to the drawings in which .sim ar reference characters refer to similar parts, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a plate, preterably stamped troma single sheet of metalto provide atfiat body 15 having marginal flanges 16 formed with openings 17 through which the usual-boltsare adapted to=be extended for securingthe plate as a unit in covering position witli respect to the opening ol thelower section of a crank case; I

At suitable points within the body 15, the plate is stamped to form: depending pockets 18, 19 and 20, and thesepockets are ot' the desired-depth and contour to effect the necessary trapping of the lubricating oil, and-to partly accommodate the cranks of the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, each pocket 18, 19 and 20 has its side walls formed to provide covers 21 for the reception of pans 22, and as clearly shown in Fig. 5, each pan 22 is formed from a sheet of resilient metal provided at its opposite ends with lips 23 which are adapted to fit within the grooves 21 for retaining the pan as a unit in proper position within the pocket. In the application of the pan to the pocket, it will be clear that the pan is flexed to allow the insertion of the lips 23 within the grooves, and the subsequent expansion of the pan to securely retain the lips within the grooves. In the applied position of the pan within the pocket, it is slightly cupped, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of allowing the pocket to accommodate the crank and connecting rod bearing of the engine.

In the applied position of the cover plate to an internal combustion. engine as shown in Fig. 1, the several pockets 18, 19 and 20 are disposed to accommodate the connect ing rod bearings as in any conventional splash system of lubrication.

Then applying oil to the crank case, the several pockets are naturally filled with oil and to points above the pans 22 so that a concentration of the oil is effected at the connecing rod hearings to cause the distribution of the oil under the action of the moving bearings as will be understood. During the operation of the engine, particles of carbon as well as particles of metal find their way into the crank case, and under the action of the moving oil, they are deposited into the pockets 18, 19 and 20. Obviously, the pockets operating in conjunction with the pans effect a trapping of these solid particles so as to prevent their expulsion from the pockets under the action of the moving oil. Consequently, the solid particles are removed from the oil in circulation so that the possibility of the cylinder Walls and bearings being injured by these particles is positively prevented.

By virtue of the accumulation of oil Within the several pockets of the cover plate, it Will be clear that should the quantity of oil within the crank case be insufficient to effect proper lubrication of the engine, by

' introducing Water into the crank case, it

will find its Way into the pockets 18, 19 and 20 thereby displacing the oil so as to force the latter upwardly into the crank case. of oil in actual circulation sufficiently to temporarily prevent injury to the motor.

hat I claim is:

1. A crank case cover plate having pockets formed therein and grooves formed in the walls of the pockets, pans Within the pockets This obviously increases the amount and having lips extending 1nto the grooves for sustaining the pans in proper position Within the pockets.

2. A crank case cover plate having pockets formed therein and grooves formed in the Walls of the pockets, and pans having lips adapted to engage Within the grooves for securing the pans in proper position Within the pockets, said pans being formed of resilient metal to allow of the flexing thereof with the insertion of the lips into the grooves.

8. A crank case cover plate having pockets formed therein and grooves formed in the Walls of the pockets, and pans having terminal lips adapted to engage Within the grooves for securing the pans in proper position Within the pockets, said pans being formed of resilient metal to allow of the flexing thereof with the insertion of the lips into the grooves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LINCOLN R. LAMBERT. 

